North Cornwall Liberal Democrats

15/10/2026

When Cornwall gets the right amount of funding. We can deliver.

Today marked the formal closure of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Shared Prosperity Programme.

The Government chose not to continue this funding, and I remain deeply disappointed that Cornwall has lost a programme that delivered so much for our communities, businesses and residents.

But today was also an opportunity to reflect on what we achieved. Across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, £186.3 million was invested through 974 projects. The programme created jobs, supported training and qualifications, strengthened businesses and improved community facilities. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has been delivering good growth before it became fashionable, and that strong delivery record has been recognised and helped us secure the £30 million Kernow Industrial Growth Fund. 

I am particularly proud of what this investment has delivered in Bodmin. It has supported new business units on Normandy Way, helped give the former St John Ambulance building a new future as The Beat, backed Bodmin Revival CIC, KBSK and many other organisations. It also funded improvements to our town centre, including new murals, planting, seating and wayfinding. 

The programme’s legacy will also continue through two funds that remain open to investment:

🎬 The Screen Cornwall Equity Fund, supporting film and television productions that invest in Cornwall and create opportunities for local talent.

💡 The Beacon Fund, offering equity investment of £20,000 to £200,000 for ambitious early-stage businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The funding programme may have closed, but our ambition has not. Cornwall has proved that when investment and decision-making are placed in local hands, we deliver.

14/10/2026

Great to see local representatives working together for the benefit of North Cornwall. 👇

06/10/2026

A really positive step for dental care in Wadebridge. 🦷

Great to see the SMILE dental van already providing much-needed emergency treatment thanks to the hard work of Ben Maguire MP, Rosie Moore and the North Cornwall Dental Campaign.

But this is only a first step. We need permanent, accessible NHS dental provision for Wadebridge and across North Cornwall.

30/09/2026

🚨 🌊 North Cornwall's Liberal Democrat councillors at the forefront of the fight against sewage pollution.

They have officially launched their year-round water testing scheme with Surfers Against Sewage, after it emerged the Environment Agency only tests our bathing water between May and September - despite people swimming and surfing here all year round.

The launch by Cllr Rosie Moore, Cllr David Garrigan, Cllr James O'Keefe, and Cllr Faye Emery comes just one day after South West Water was fined almost £8 MILLION for over 500 illegal sewage discharges, including hundreds at Harlyn Beach and in the River Camel.

Our local MP, Ben Maguire, has also given the scheme his full backing, saying he's proud that our Lib Dem councillors are building on his fight against sewage pollution, and that he'll be raising it in Parliament to push for it to be adopted nationwide if successful! ✅

Cllr Rosie Moore Wadebridge East & St Minver / Faye Emery, Cornwall Councillor for Stratton, Kilkhampton and Morwenstow / James O'Keefe Cornwall Councillor for Padstow Ward / Councillor David Garrigan

28/09/2026

Earlier this year, I brought a motion to Full Council, seconded by Cllr James Ball Independent Roskear and Tuckingmill, calling for fairer funding for Cornwall’s children and schools. I was really pleased to see it receive unanimous cross-party support.

So I’m absolutely delighted to see another big step forward in making sure Cornwall’s children get their fair share! 💛

Last year we introduced automatic enrolment for Free School Meals, in time for the new school year, meaning eligible children shouldn’t miss out simply because an application hasn’t been made.

And the figures are eye opening! 👇

🍽️ 17,485 children in Cornwall have now been awarded Free School Meals
⭐️ 14,000 were identified through the new automatic award process
🪙 £6.9 million a year saved by families on school meals
🚸 £11.9 million extra Pupil Premium funding going into Cornwall’s schools

That’s just under £19 MILLION of additional support for Cornwall’s families and schools!

There’s still plenty more to do, but whether it’s pushing nationally for fairer funding or making sure we’re getting every penny of funding already available to us, it all comes back to the same thing:

Cornwall’s children and schools deserve their fair share 💛

22/09/2026

And that’s a wrap for Conference 2026. A great North Cornwall and wider Cornwall attendance. 🙌

A plan would that put £680 a year back in our pocket and ease the squeeze we're all feeling.

Ben calling for dental A&E’s to be setup in every community.

Policies were also passed on Getting the Nation Walking, Wheeling and Cycling and Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls in the Digital Age. 🔶

22/09/2026

Great to have so many North Cornwall Young Lib Dem’s at conference in Brighton. Appearing on panels, speaking in debates and being interviewed about the future. If you want to be involved get in touch with Lottie via [email protected] 🔶

16/09/2026

Ben Maguire MP has been working over the summer to get more NHS dental appointments in North Cornwall.

It is great news that a surgery is opening in Bodmin soon. To register for this practice please visit www//Dentistryforyou.co.uk for the latest updates.

The mobile dental unit that Ben Maguire MP and Cllr Rosie Moore Wadebridge East & St Minver have been working with, is visiting North Cornwall again in October with a stop in Wadebridge. Thanks to the Trustees of the The Goods Shed, who are working for a more permanent dentistry presence.

This first visit will be for emergency appointments only which can be booked via the Cornwall Dental Helpline 0333 405 0290.

10/09/2026

An excellent campaign win, well done to Ben Maguire MP, Chris Batters Lib Dem Councillor for Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence, Leigh Frost Cornwall Councillor for Bodmin St Petroc and Dan Rogerson for Bodmin St. Mary’s and St. Leonard for standing up for the residents of Bodmin and holding the developer to account. 🔶

🚨 🏠 HUGE CAMPAIGN WIN: Wain Homes has officially WITHDRAWN its application to renege on £350,000 of promised infrastructure from its development in Bodmin! ✅

This was money meant for education, healthcare and transport, and locals were quite rightly appalled at the developer’s attempt to weasel out of their Section 106 obligations.

I campaigned hard against this from the start, urgently writing to Government and raising it directly with the Housing Minister in the House of Commons earlier this week.

I’m very pleased that our campaign efforts have truly paid off - and credit must also go to my Lib Dem Cornwall Council colleagues for joining my call, as well as to Bodmin Town Council and local residents who made their voices heard loud and clear.

I do want to be clear that this is just the first win - not the last - in our fight against North Cornwall's infrastructure emergency.

I’ll be bringing forward legislation to the House soon that outlines how we can combat developer greed, and make sure infrastructure is put in place FIRST before developers can leave Cornwall’s communities high-and-dry.

A big win to celebrate!

-⁠ ⁠Ben ✍️

Leigh Frost Cornwall Councillor for Bodmin St Petroc // Chris Batters Lib Dem Councillor for Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence // Dan Rogerson for Bodmin St. Mary’s and St. Leonard

02/09/2026

Our monthly coffee morning returns this weekend following a short summer break in Launceston. All welcome and on the agenda for discussion is the environment and climate. 🔶